New International Version
Proverbs 17:21
21To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.
Proverbs 17:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.
- New Living Translation (NLT)It is painful to be the parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel.
Context of Proverbs 17:21
19Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction. 20One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper; one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble. To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool. 22A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 23The wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice.
Read all of Proverbs 17Proverbs 17:21 word by word
יֹלֵ֣ד כְּ֭סִיל לְת֣וּגָה ל֑וֹ וְלֹֽא־יִ֝שְׂמַ֗ח אֲבִ֣י נָבָֽל׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Proverbs 17:21
- Proverbs 17:25A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
- Proverbs 10:1The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
- Proverbs 15:20A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
- Proverbs 19:13A foolish child is a father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof.
- Genesis 26:34When Esau was forty years old, he married Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite.
- 1 Samuel 2:32and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age.
- 1 Samuel 8:3But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.
- 2 Samuel 18:33The king was shaken. He went up to the room over the gateway and wept. As he went, he said: “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!”
- Proverbs 23:15My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed;
- 2 Corinthians 2:3I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy.
- 3 John 1:4I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Commentaries on Proverbs 17:21
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21Verse 21 This speaks very plainly what many wise and good men feel very strongly, how grievous it is to have a foolish, wicked child.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. (Compare Pr 23:24). Different words are rendered by "fool," both denoting stupidity and impiety.Read the comment
Topics related to Proverbs 17:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Proverbs 17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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